THUNDER BAY – A 16-year-old boy was killed on Tuesday morning, the victim of the city’s second homicide of 2021.
A second male, 17, is in hospital with serious injuries, though police were not able to state the extent of the injuries at this time.
Police say the incident took place in the area of Gore Street West and James Street south just after midnight on Tuesday, leading law enforcement to close a section of the James Street Bridge and limit traffic in the area.
Police have arrested a 31-year-old man, who was located in the area early on Tuesday morning, and charged him with aggravated assault and second-degree murder.
He was initially arrested on outstanding warrants unrelated to Tuesday’s killing.
Det.-Sgt. Jeremy Pearson of the Thunder Bay Police Service's criminal investigations branch said they responded to a call of a disturbance and an injured male.
"When we got there, there were two injured parties discovered. They were transferred to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Subsequently one party has succumbed to his injuries. In the course of the examination in the area, a male was located, identified and was arrested on some outstanding warrants unrelated to the incident," Pearson said.
"The identification progressed and identified that male as the suspect in this incident and he's since been arrested and charged."
The accused has not been named, but is expected to appear in court for a bail hearing on Wednesday morning.
Pearson said the second male victim is in serious condition, but was unable to say at the time if the injuries were life threatening. Police were tight-lipped about the nature of the incident, citing their ongoing investigation, though it's believed there was a knife involved.
A post-mortem examination of the 16-year-old victim is scheduled and is expected to take place in Toronto.
The identity of the deceased has been withheld at this time by police until notification of next-of-kin takes place.
James Street, between Gore Street and the swing bridge, remains closed at this time. Southbound traffic can traverse the bridge from Montreal Street.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to phone police at 684-1200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or submit at tip online at www.p3tips.com.
The full release can be seen below:
NEWS RELEASE
THUNDER BAY POLICE SERVICE
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Police continue to investigate an early morning incident on the city’s southside that left one teen deceased and a second seriously injured.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers were originally dispatched to the area of James Street South and Gore Street West just after 12:20 a.m. on Tuesday, June 29 following reports of a disturbance. When police arrived they learned two teen males had been injured during an altercation with an adult male.
Both were transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for further assessment and treatment of their injuries. A 16-year-old male has died from his injuries, while a 17-year-old male remains at the hospital. The 17-year-old male suffered serious injuries, but the exact extent of those injuries are unknown at this time.
Members of the TBPS’s Major Crimes Unit are now involved in the investigation.
Police located a 31-year-old male in the area in the morning hours of Tuesday, June 29. The male was identified and arrested on outstanding, but unrelated, warrants. Further investigation revealed the male was also the suspect involved in the earlier disturbance.
He now faces charges of Aggravated Assault and Second-Degree Murder. He remains in police custody at the TBPS headquarters and other charges are pending. His identity is being withheld pending a bail hearing, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 30.
A post-mortem examination of the 16-year-old victim is pending and will take place in Toronto. The identity of the deceased is being withheld at this time.
Police continue to hold a scene and the public is asked to continue avoiding the area.
James Street, between Gore Street and the James Street Swing Bridge, is blocked to traffic at this time. At this time only southbound traffic can cross the James Street Swing bridge from Montreal Street
The investigation remains ongoing.
If you have any information that could assist investigators please call police at 684-1200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at www.p3tips.com.
